About 60 percent of the lift truck market is made up by electric lift truck models. These units derive their power from heavy, huge lead-acid batteries which give the equipment it's counterweight so as to avoid it from tipping over.
The ITA states that electric counterbalanced lift trucks are considered Class 1 lift trucks. The category of Class1 also includes stand-up counterbalanced trucks in addition to other electric trucks that are made for general application. Though the first investment when you buy an electric lift truck is more than an IC or internal combustion forklift, electric forklifts are less costly to operate and run in the long-run. This is because of lesser maintenance and fuel costs, than the IC or internal combustion models.
Within North America, most electric rider lift trucks are designed for transporting materials indoors. Electric rider lift trucks are utilized most frequently in warehousing applications, and retail spaces. The electric models are the best choice for inside applications since they emit zero toxic emissions and make less noise.
Also, electric lift truck could usually run a complete 8 hour shift on one battery charge. Reloading, recharging and removing batteries, that generally weigh about 3000 lbs. can be time consuming and difficult. This burdensome job usually requires a dedicated area for handling the battery. Nevertheless, new fast charging technologies are being utilized to update this method and change the procedure to be able to complete it in a a lot quicker way.
This fast charging technology is considered to be better charging technology. It has revolutionized electric unit forklifts and the time it takes to charge their batteries. The professionals of the material handling industry, state that these new changes in the battery charging systems and battery technology can lessen charging time by up to 50 percent!
Internal Combustion Counterbalanced Forklifts
The internal combustion powered lift truck will depend on types of fuels, like LPG or liquid propane gas, diesel, compressed natural gas or CNG and gasoline. The larger forklifts are commonly used outside. Usually, these units are gas or diesel powered and utilizes pneumatic or air-filled tires so as to make them suitable for steep inclines and rough terrain, compared to cushion tires. Cushion tires are better suited for smooth services and indoor applications since they are made from solid rubber.
The most common fuel option for indoor trucks is LPG. There are more than 600,000 propane-filled lift trucks today which are operating in DCs and within warehouses. These models provide a wide variety of benefits. For instance, propane-fueled forklifts maintain 100% consistent power during operation. As well, these models offer faster ground speeds compared to other power sources.